Coventry City caretaker boss Adrian Heath, last night called on the club's board to name a permanent manager as soon as possible.

Heath, who took over the role when Peter Reid walked out on the club 10 days ago, is on the shortlist for the permanent post but knows that this defeat to table-topping Ipswich will not have done his chances that much good, despite a spirited showing.

And now the former Sheffield United and Burnley manager is concerned that a lack of new players could cost the club dearly as they sit just three points above the Championship drop zone.

Heath, talking after watching his side take the lead at Portman Road before missing out to a late freak goal, said: "We are now down to the bare bones and we need to bring players in at the club.

"The manager's position needs to be clarified quickly. If it's me, then great, but someone should be appointed and be allowed to get on with the job, because we need new players.

"The board will not let a caretaker manager strengthen the squad, so a decision needs to be made sooner rather than later."

Heath, had plenty of cause for complaint after his side were robbed by a freak 76th-minute goal by Ipswich leading scorer Sheski Kuqi.

He added: "We did deserve a draw from the game. Their last goal was bizarre. Their keeper mis-kicked the ball and it hardly went above knee height, but the next minute Kuqi, is running through on our goal.

"We have come to a team which will probably be promoted, and for large periods of the game, we have been the better side. We had the chances to win the game and it's hard to take.

"I couldn't ask any more, but the unfortunate part of this job is that it's a results business and we have too many of these types of games. We've murdered Gillingham twice, been better than Crewe have been two goals up at Derby and have taken nothing from those games, that's why we are in the position we are in. I thought the referee was very poor and I was not happy with their opening goal. I felt Steve Staunton was fouled and that the Ipswich player kept the ball in with his hand.

"It's okay for the referee, he'll go about his normal job on Monday, whereas we'll be left to pick up the pieces."

Heath's judgement on the officials may have been a tad harsh but there was no question that Coventry could and should have got something from the game. They created enough chances to take all the points, but in the end were far too wasteful.

Heath, certainly went positive with a formation which, at times, saw three strikers pressing forward.

They opened brightly and their 12th minute lead was certainly deserved.

Dean Leacock, in the side at right-back, moved impressively through midfield before flicking the ball on to Stern John, who beat Kalvin Davis as the defence stood appealing for offside.

It was, however, one of few productive things the former Birmingham man managed to do as he again struggled to make a positive impact.

It was just looking as if City would take their lead into the interval, when Ipswich made the breakthrough they needed.

Fabian Wilnis, swung a cross into the Coventry area and when the ball evaded Richard Shaw, Darren Bent was there to curl it home from close range.

At that stage it looked as if the home side would go on to claim victory, but Heath's men calved out a couple of fine early second-half chances which were allowed to go begging. That wastefulness was punished just short of the hour, when home skipper Jim Magilton played a clever pass around Shaw, allowing Bent to dart into the area and finish past Luke Steele.

But, to their credit, the Sky Blues were level inside 60 seconds. A Michael Doyle corner clearly struck Kuqi on the arm and referee Mike Russell gave Coventry the penalty, which Gary McSheffrey finished in definite fashion.

But then came, the late twist of bad fortune. With 14 minutes left, Davis, cleared the ball upfield but his mis-struck kick skated right through the middle of midfield and fell nicely for Kuqi who ran on into the area before scoring with a low shot.

Heath, maybe on the short-list for the job and will learn his fate this week, as the board start interviewing candidates. This reverse, however undeserved, may cost him dear.